I put a set of M7 springs on my '05 MCS today and as soon as I started it up the ABS light, the DSC light, and the Tire Pressure light all stay on.

I did the key on reset with the tire button near the e-brake but that didn't clear them. Does it have something to do with the ride height sensors that are on the LF and LR lower control arms? Are those sensors on all the cars or just ones with DSC?

Has anyone else experienced this after installing lowering springs?

 

My car worked just fine after installing my springs, btw they were Eibachs.

 

One component which the ABS, DSC, and tire pressure warning systems have in common is the ABS wheel speed sensors. You may want to start by checking the sensors and their associated wiring- it could be something as simple as one of the sensor connectors (or one of the individual conductors) not being fully seated following reassembly of the suspension.

If you have access to a diagnostic scan tool, this will help pinpoint the source of the issue.



I believe the ride-height sensors attached to two of the lower control arms are found only on cars equipped with HID headlamps, and are used for the self leveling feature of these lamps.

 

One of my sensor wires rubbed through [the dealer put on my JCW suspension kit] and the same happened. It was an easy fix

 

All 4 of the wheel speed sensors look good, no loose connectors or frayed wires. I've had the ABS cycle a few times under moderate braking when coming to a stop, the wheels weren't even close to skidding and the ABS shouldn't have came on.

I have a basic universal OBD2 scan tool but that will only get me powertrain DTC's I'm sure. I'm actually a Honda dealer tech for a living and on most of our cars there is a procedure (jumped connector, etc.) to read a code (by counting blinks of the warning light) when you can't retrieve a code with the HDS (Honda's "scan tool") and I was wondering if anyone knew a way to retrieve an ABS code on a MINI without a specialized tester.

When I start the car the ABS and DSC lights are on and then as soon as I start rolling the TPMS light comes on as well. Every once in a while I'll be driving along and all three lights turn off but after 30-60 seconds or so they come back on.

 

I did a search and read through about a bazillion posts. It seems that if you get DSC light and Tire light then you need a steering angle sensor. But if you get those two lights and the ABS light as well then you need a left front wheel speed sensor. So at least now I have a better idea. :impatient

 

I had that problem twice last year with my car, all three lights came on, a while after I put on H-Sport springs. Both times it was a faulty wheel sensor. Happened twice in a three month period. I don't know what caused it, if it was spring related or not, but shortly after the second time I switched to aftermarket wheels & regular tires and have since put on 30,000 miles without it happening again.

 

Did you diagnose it or did the dealer? If I have the time tomorrow I'm going to see if I can test each sensor at its connector with an analog voltmeter while someone spins the wheel and see if one of them doesn't give an oscillating pattern so I can figure out which one is bad.

 

No, both times I took it to the dealer, they replaced a faulty sensor each time. It would be OK for a couple of months then go bad again. The tech told me that the sensors were going bad. I still don't know what caused it. Just that afer I changed the wheels it has not happened again. The tech did say something about the internals of the sensor can break from harsh impacts from potholes ect..... Maybe the switch to regular tires provides enough extra cushion to protect the sensors?? I wish I could be more of help, I was just relating to your problem because at the time it was driving me freaking crazy, bad enough all the lights were on, but the way the abs would kick in at low speeds for no reason really annoyed me, and not having DSC or ABS on the highway because I believe the faulty sensor disables those two functions.